Samaritans of Taunton & Somerset, founded in 1968, was originally based in Bridgwater and moved to its current site at 16, Wood Street, Taunton TA1 1UN in 1972. The branch is ideally located, close to a car park, the bus station and is easily walkable from the centre of town.

Our activities cover much of Exmoor, the Quantocks and the Blackdown Hills and all the major towns in West and South Somerset. We have nearly 100 volunteers, who provide an incredibly valuable service, each year dealing with around 40,000 calls, face to face meetings, emails and text messages. Many of our volunteers live in and around Taunton but some travel from the surrounding areas of Wellington, Minehead, Bridgwater, Tiverton, Ilminster and many of the outlying villages.

We average around 100 contacts with callers per day, mainly on the telephone, every day of the year - a great achievement. This volume of contacts is one of the highest of all the branches in the UK, reflecting the dedication and hard work put in by our volunteers.

We are passionate about the support we give to our community. In addition to listening to our callers, our speakers give presentations to schools, colleges, clubs, doctors’ surgeries, local companies and many other organisations - all as part of our extensive Outreach programme. Our volunteers also offer emotional support every week to people visiting Taunton Foodbank and at Open Door, the daytime refuge for the homeless and rough sleepers.

We are currently recruiting more volunteers. If you are interested in helping Samaritans, either as a Listening Volunteer or as one of our hugely important Support Volunteers, click on the link below for more information. We hold regular information evenings at the branch on the first Thursday in every month from 7pm, when you can come along and find out more about our work and also meet some of our volunteers. No appointment necessary – just turn up!

Each year, the branch is expected to raise all their own funds. The Taunton volunteers are grateful for the hugely important fundraising activities that help them continue to provide the excellent service they give. Fundraising is, therefore, an important element of our work and, together with our Outreach work, it helps to increase the visibility of the branch and the service we provide.

It costs over £100 per day to run Samaritans of Taunton and Somerset and one simple way to raise money is to do your online shopping via EasyFundraising - a portal that provides access to all major retailers, who will donate a percentage of your spend without it costing you a penny.

Samaritans is a charity registered in England and Wales (219432) and in Scotland (SC040604) and incorporated in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (757372). Samaritans Ireland is a charity registered in the Republic of Ireland (20033668) and incorporated in the Republic of Ireland as a company limited by guarantee (450409). Samaritans in Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland (SC009843) and incorporated as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Samaritans Enterprises is a private limited company (01451175).